Is Black Diamond safe for German Blue Rams?

[Mostlydave]

Just like the title says is black diamond sandblasting sand safe for German Blue Ram Cichlids? I'm doing some research before setting up a new tank and I'm reall thinking about going with black diamond for substrate.

I'm planning on this being a low tech low cost natural looking tank!

 

[gerald]

Here's a bit of info on coal slag sand (e.g. Black Diamond). http://www.ensioresources.com/Learning_Center/coal_slag.html
Ive been wondering too whether it may leach things that could cause long-term problems (copper, arsenic, etc) or whether the shape/texture may be dangerous for sand-sifting fish. It is "inert" and "safe" enough to pass test for human use (sandblasting) but that may not tell us everything about its long-term safety in an aquarium.

 

[Mike Wise]

Also the grains are sharp and angular - not good for sand-sifting cichlids like Rams.

 

[Mostlydave]

Is anyone here actually using it or tried it, on planted tank I have someone that is using it

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/substrate/171112-black-diamond-safe-german-blue-ram.html

 

[mstamper]

I am using Black Diamond in my 20 long shrimp tank and in my 6.6 bookshelf tank. Both of those tanks have some of my most stable water parameters of all my tanks. Both of those tanks are low tech planted tanks and they do fine.

 

[tjudy]

I have used it in the past, but I do not like it because it is less dense than gravel... which means that it is hard to 'vacuum'. It is also very sharp, and there are very fine particles, so I would not want to keep it with sand-sifting (earth eating) fish.